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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-2013 * Finance Committee CITY OF October 7, 2013 - 5:30 PM Annex Conference Room 1 wA$fiINGTON MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair John Partridge called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in Annex Conference Room 1 located on the second floor of the City Hall Annex at One East Main Street in Auburn. A. Roll Call Chair John Partridge, Vice Chair Largo Wales, and Member John Holman were present. City officials and staff members present: Mayor Peter B. Lewis, Councilmember Wayne Osborne, Councilmember Bill Peloza, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Planning Services Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Recreation and Program Marketing Manager Julie Brewer, Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Finance Director Shelley Coleman, Human Resources and Risk Management Director Brenda Heineman, Human Resources and Risk Management Assistant Director Rob Roscoe and Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell. B. Announcements There was no announcement. C. Agenda Modifications There was no agenda modification. II. CONSENT AGENDA A. September 16, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes Member Holman moved and Vice Chair Wales seconded to approve the minutes as distributed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 B. Claims Vouchers (Coleman) Claims Voucher numbers 425314 through 425613 in the amount of $2,564,309.54 and two wire transfers numbers 0134 and 0135 in the amount of $1167.00 and dated October 7, 2013. Page 1 of 5 Committee members reviewed claims and payroll vouchers. Vice Chair Wales moved and Member Holman seconded to approve and forward claims and payroll vouchers to the City Council for consideration. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 C. Payroll Vouchers Payroll check numbers 534112 through 534155 in the amount of $314,031 .04 electronic deposit transmissions in the amount of $1 ,274,563.12 for a grand total of $1 ,588,594.16 for the period covering September 12, 2013 to October 2, 2013 See claims vouchers above for approval of payroll vouchers. III. ORDINANCES A. Ordinance No. 6482 (Chamberlain) An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, Amending Sections 3.60.036, 3.94.040 and 3.94.060 of the City of Auburn Code relating to tax exemptions Planning Services Manager Chamberlain introduced Ordinance No. 6482. The tax exemptions are only for the residential portion for the property. The City has received requests from two developers for the City to reevaluate the minimum investment required to be eligible for the tax exemption. The Washington State Law that governs the tax exemption does not require a minimum investment. With the proposed changes developers would have two options; one is an eight year tax exception when the property is rented at market rate, the other option is for a twelve year tax exemption if the property has affordable housing. The minimum investment for the twelve year option was amended to $130,000.00. There would not be a minimum investment for the eight year option. Both developers are planning to use the eight year option. The other change in the code is related to application deadlines for a developer to be eligible for the tax exemption. Chair Partridge asked what the cost to the City would be in lost property tax revenue. Director Coleman stated the tax exemption would be approximately $34,000.00 per year. Member Holman stated the City would be receiving no tax revenue if the property is not purchased and developed. Mayor Lewis said the tax exemption is only on the residential portion of the property tax, not on the land or the retail space. The City will see an increased density in the downtown area bringing increased sales tax revenue. The City would also gain two developed properties in the downtown core. The projects include apartments with amenities similar to the Seattle and Bellevue Page 2 of 5 areas with lower rents. Member Holman stated this tax exemption will be realized in approximately $100.00 per month in lower rent. Vice Chair Wales stated this is an opportunity to bring a better quality product to the citizens of Auburn. IV. RESOLUTIONS A. Resolution No. 4993 (Heineman) A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn approving the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Auburn and Association of Washington Cities Employee Benefit Trust for Health Care Director Heineman introduced Resolution No. 4993. The City is continuing their partnership with Association of Washington Cities (AWC) for health benefits. AWC has agreed to not raise the premiums for 2014. AWC is creating an insurance pool similar to what the City had looked into. Chair Partridge confirmed the health benefit to the employees would not change with the new agreement. Vice Chair Wales moved and Member Holman seconded to approve and forward Resolution No. 4993 to the full Council for consideration. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 B. Resolution No. 4999 (Chamberlain) A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, amending Resolution No. 4920 related to temporary reduction of certain fees by changing the eligibility date Manager Chamberlain introduced Resolution No. 4999. She stated the fee schedule will be updated to reflect the change in eligibility fate from received to date submitted. The change is due to additional requirements made by the City. The developers would not be able to meet the deadline. Vice Chair Wales moved and Member Holman seconded to approve and forward Resolution No. 4999 to the full Council for consideration. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0 V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Resolution No. 4991 (Coleman) A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement between the City of Auburn and Mead & Hunt, Inc., for a Wildlife and Habitat Assessment at the Auburn Municipal Airport Page 3 of 5 Director Coleman introduced Resolution No. 4991. The agreement is with Mead & Hunt for Wildlife Habitat Assessment. The project is mostly grant funded with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) paying for 90 percent of the cost, the State of Washington will pay five percent and the City will pay the remaining five percent. The FAA requires the City to do a wildlife habitat assessment at the airport. B. Century West Task Order (Coleman) Council approve engineering design services for proposed improvements at Auburn Municipal Airport Director Coleman stated the agreement is the first task order for design services for improvements at the Auburn Municipal Airport. The Committee was provided a budget summary for the project. C. Auburn Symphony Orchestra Contracts (Coleman) Director Coleman reported the City sponsors the advertising for the Auburn Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra has five events per year, and the City pays $100,000.00 for advertising. Director Faber stated the advertising always acknowledges the City as the sponsor. Vice Chair Wales asked if the City can request the Symphony hold their annual fund raiser in the City of Auburn. Mayor Lewis said the City can propose venues and accommodations for the Symphony's next fund raiser. The Committee discussed compensation for the musicians. Chair Partridge stated he would like to see the Symphony incorporate the youth of the City more. Member Holman said the Committee needs to ensure the City is getting a good value for the support provided to the Symphony. Mayor Lewis stated another component of the advertising for the Symphony is the promotion of the City. D. WCIA 2014 Assessment (Heineman) Director Heineman stated the City receives an annual assessment from Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA). For this assessment losses paid by WCIA and worker hours are reviewed. Assistant Director Roscoe said the City's liability assessment is driven by worker hours and the last five years of losses. The City is in a liability pool. If one jurisdiction has a year with high losses the other jurisdictions help cover the losses. The City has decreased losses reducing the City's liability significantly over the last several years. This is attributed to staff working to limit the City's liability and Page 4 of 5 reporting problems quickly. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. APPROVED this 21st day of October, 2013. Jo n Partridge, Chair Shawn Campbell, DeputyCity Clerk Page 5 of 5